Category: kmiz-local-news

Haley Swaino

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 57-year-old man from Gravois Mills had to be flown to University Hospital on Saturday night after he was seriously injured in a crash, according to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The crash occurred on Bluffs Drive, near Lake Trail Lane, in Morgan County.

The report says the crash happened as the 2019 Polaris General 999cc – driven by the man – was heading northbound around 9:30 p.m. The vehicle went off the right side of the road and overturned.

The man was not wearing a helmet, the report says. The vehicle had moderate damage.

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Haley Swaino

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man was killed in a motorcycle crash in Jefferson City on Saturday morning, according to a crash release from the Jefferson City Police Department.

Just before 9 a.m., officers responded to a scene in the eastbound lanes of Highway 54, near Route 179, where a 1976 Triumph T140V motorcycle had overturned.

The 73-year-old rider failed to make a curve, lost control, and was thrown from the bike, the release says. He was not wearing a helmet and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Traffic was delayed for about 90 minutes Saturday morning while JCPD’s Traffic Unit investigated, according to the release.

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Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Joined by local business owners, City of Columbia residents, and Boone County Prosecutor Roger Johnson, University of Missouri System President Mun Choi got a glimpse of the downtown Columbia nightlife scene in a walkthrough of the city late Saturday night.

Choi initially proposed the idea to Columbia and Boone County leaders on Tuesday, with the goal of providing leaders with an eyewitness account of potential public safety issues in the area.

The walkthrough came a week after a deadly homecoming weekend shooting in September that led to the death of Stephen’s College student Aiyanna Williams.

Since Williams’ death, the City of Columbia and the University of Missouri released a joint list of actions they plan to take to tackle public safety downtown. The list included discussing federal programs for public safety, conducting reviews of downtown operations and crowd control, and increasing staffing downtown during weekend hours. Columbia and University of Missouri police departments, as well as extra Missouri State Highway Patrol and Boone County Sheriff’s deputies, were seen patrolling the streets on Saturday night.

“They’ve all sent people in to help us, but they’re really just trying to make a statement that we’re going to be down here making sure people are safe and enforcing laws,” Columbia Police Chief Jill Schlude said.

During the walkthrough, Choi met with local business owners and stopped to talk with students and Columbia residents about what they see during the weekends, as well as issues people may have with homeless people during the day.

“Living downtown these past two years has been iffy,” University of Missouri student Payton Duncan said. “I really don’t want to walk on Broadway past midnight, but it’s felt a lot safer the past two nights, especially since that call to action.”

Several passersby told ABC 17 News that a common issue downtown is large groups gathering in front of businesses after bars close. One Columbia resident said he’s seen “street parties” that sometimes block access to apartments and even ambulances and first responders trying to reach people in need of help.

“There’s definitely a problem, and I really appreciate that our president is making efforts to make it better,” University of Missouri student Grace Gedhart said.

No city leaders were present at Saturday’s walkthrough; however, the city tells ABC 17 News leaders are working on setting up an evening downtown walkthrough on their own.

Ward 3 Council Member Jacque Sample, who was not in attendance Saturday, said in a statement Wednesday that community violence is a complex issue and can’t be solved just through law enforcement departments.

Boone County Prosecutor Roger Johnson walked with Choi Saturday night.

“He’s [Choi’s] focused, I think, in addition to violent crime downtown, on crime related to mental health issues, that’s something that we’ve been working on and struggling with for several years,” Johnson said. “I’m just very hopeful that with the university and more people paying attention to the issue, we can make some progress on something that’s been just a tremendous challenge.”

Choi acknowledged the complexity of improving public safety at the walk, but said that he was pleased with the law enforcement presence he saw during the walkthrough.

“At the same time, while we are addressing those issues, we have to address the law enforcement aspect and keeping our community safe,” Choi said. “It’s not an ‘either-or,’ it’s an ‘and.'”

Choi plans to walk through downtown Columbia again.

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Euphenie Andre

KINGDOM CITY, Mo (KMIZ)

Governor Mike Kehoe has ordered the Missouri State Capitol dome to shine red from sunset on Saturday through sunrise Sunday in honor of Missouri firefighters who died in the line of duty.

A candlelight vigil is was held at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Firefighters Memorial of Missouri in Kingdom City.

The ceremony is part of the 21st annual Candlelight Vigil, organized by the Firefighters Memorial Foundation of Missouri. This year, 104 firefighters were recognized, 10 who died in the line of duty, and 94 others honored for their years of dedicated service.

Keith Smith, president of the Firefighters Memorial Foundation, said the event is not just about remembering loss but keeping the legacy of each firefighter alive.

“There’s a saying that you die twice the first time is when your body gives out, and the second is when people stop saying your name and telling your story,” Smith said.

Family members of the fallen shared who they came to honor, proudly saying names like Marcus Maggard, Donald Kammerich, and Larry Harlan.

Among the ten honored is Assistant Chief Matthew Tobben of the Boone County Fire Protection District, who died on July 8, 2024. Tobben was 42 years old and had served for more than 19 years in both Franklin and Boone counties. He lost his life while performing a water rescue of two victims during flooding in Columbia’s Bear Creek.

Loved ones told ABC 17 News they’re still processing the loss but are grateful his name is now engraved on the memorial wall.

The firefighters being remembered this year passed away as recently as this past April and as far back as June 2021.

“This weekend, we honor fallen firefighters who ranged in age from their twenties up to age 72, but they shared the common purpose of protecting their neighbors and communities, despite the risks to their own lives,” State Fire Marshal Tim Bean said in a press release. “Not a day goes by that I am not awed by the commitment and steadfastness of the men and women who make up Missouri’s fire service, and the families who support them.”

Governor Mike Kehoe also shared a statement honoring those being remembered.

“Missourians are indebted to the members of the fire service who courageously gave their lives in the line of duty,” Kehoe said. “They acted as true heroes, shielding others from harm and protecting homes and businesses. Whether in large cities or small towns, we are grateful for the men and women who sacrifice valuable time with their families to train and respond each time the alarm bell rings. They are critical to the foundation on which strong communities are built.”

A memorial ceremony will follow Sunday at 10:30 a.m., where ten new names will be added to the memorial wall. The wall displays the names of Missouri firefighters who have died in the line of duty.

The memorial events come after Governor Mike Parson proclaimed October 5 as Fire Service Memorial Day in Missouri.

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Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia’s leader of the office of violence prevention D’Markus Thomas-Brown says he supports continued efforts from Columbia Police Chief Jill Schlude to keep the city safe.

That includes recent efforts announced by city leaders and the University of Missouri to target crime in the downtown area. Efforts include increasing staffing at the Columbia Police Department and MUPD, as well as increasing the amount of officers from both agencies who patrol on foot during “peak weekend hours.”

Thomas-Brown said those steps are important, but knows fighting crime doesn’t just take one plan.

“We got to take a multi-pronged approach. It’s not just policing,” Thomas-Brown said. “It’s services that are able to be given to families that have been generationally impoverished. We know poverty plays into criminal genic behavior, social determinants,” Thomas-Brown said.

The announcement comes after Stephens College student Aiyanna Williams was shot and killed downtown last weekend, prompting University of Missouri System President Mun Choi to call for action from the city.

Misael Covarrubias, 23, is charged with second-degree murder in connection with the shooting, along with three counts of armed criminal action, two counts of first-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon.

Thomas-Brown recently came from a trip with the city to Columbia, South Carolina, where he said he witnessed firsthand the importance of utilizing a collaborative approach to keep residents safe. He said the city had already been focusing on public safety before the shooting, not just downtown but throughout the city.

Saturday’s shooting helped the city double-down on its efforts, Thomas-Brown said but he said he thinks there’s a bigger crisis in America that needs to be addressed.

“We have to look at firearms and have common sense policies. If that individual did not have a firearm we would not be having this conversation,” Thomas-Brown said.

The Boone County Sheriff’s Office and the Missouri State Highway Patrol have agreed to provide troopers and deputies to help patrol the area. ABC 17 News reached out to both agencies for information regarding how many troopers and deputies plan to help, as well as for the specific hours the patrols will occur.

Sgt. Kyle Green, of MSHP’s Troop F, told ABC 17 News via text that the agency does not put out specific numbers. Brian Leer, with the Boone County Sheriff’s Office, also said via email that the department does not release the number of personnel or plans prior to them happening.

“The Sheriff will evaluate requests for each detail/operation and determine to what extent the Sheriff’s Office will participate.  I know you are looking for details, but we won’t be commenting on exactly what we will or will not be doing; however, I can say the Boone County Sheriff’s Office will support professional proactive law enforcement efforts to help maintain law, order, and safety,” Leer said.

MUPD spokeswoman Sarah Yoro also said for safety purposes, the department will not release patrol plans. Yoro said MUPD will continue to work closely with CPD to help support public safety and encourages people to remain aware of their surroundings.

Choi also invited city leaders to walk with him downtown Saturday night.

Choi told city leaders the walk would allow them to witness what business owners, students and parents have been experiencing, citing issues such as gun violence and harassment by homeless people. Choi also claimed University of Missouri students are often involved in the incidents.

The walk-through is expected to start at 11 p.m. Saturday and end at 3 a.m. Sunday.

A spokesman with MU declined to comment on how many people have RSVP’d for the walk and said no security for city or university leaders has been requested.

City leaders, including Ward 5 Councilman Don Waterman and Ward 4 Councilman Nick Foster said on Wednesday that they did not plan on attending the walk. Boone County Prosecutor Roger Johnson said he planned to attend.

Thomas-Brown said while he understands the want to go on the walk and was invited, he trusts Schlude’s assessment.

Choi had also sent a letter to city and county leaders pushing for joint efforts after Saturday’s shooting.

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Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia Police Chief Jill Schlude sat down with ABC 17 News on Friday to discuss changes the department is making to make downtown Columbia safer on the weekends.

On most Friday and Saturday nights, nearly half of CPD’s on-duty officers are placed downtown. Following a shooting last weekend on East Broadway, Schlude said the department is working with its law enforcement partners to up patrol presence.

“We do have some officers coming in on overtime and we requested assistance from the Boone County Sheriff’s Department, the MU Police Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol and they are all sending resources to us as well,” Schlude said.

The City of Columbia and University of Missouri released an action plan earlier this week, which included assistance patrolling downtown from the Boone County Sheriff’s Office, Missouri State Highway Patrol and MUPD.

CPD reported that last weekend there were approximately 11 officers in the downtown area. This weekend there is no football game, but MidMO Pride Fest and Greekfest are taking place near Columbia’s downtown and campus area.

Schlud said the number of officers that are available to assist downtown can be subject to change as calls for service throughout the city come in and impact police resources.

“Over the years, Columbia has just added more and more activities and festivals, which is really positive,” Schlude said. “It just puts a little bit more stress on us. So we try to get as many people down here as we can knowing that we still have to be able to to staff police officers in the rest of the city.”

CPD is working on implementing designated pull-off and pick-up zones for ride-share programs like Uber and Lyft. Pull-off zones would be marked by temporarily blocked meter parking that were tested on Sept. 19 and 20, while the designated pick-up zones will be tested Oct. 10 and 11, according to CPD.

Schlude hopes this will assist with the traffic flow downtown throughout the weekend evenings, but especially during the peak hours.

“The traffic pinch points, especially like hitting 10th and Broadway, those places are getting really congested when ride share is trying to come in,” Schlude said. “But we don’t want to deter people from using ride share, so we’ve got to figure out a better way to make ride share pickup available, but not congest traffic so much.”

Schlude said if the pick-up and pull-off points are successful they could become permanent.

“I’m a big believer in consistency and if you’re really trying to get people that might be intoxicated to do something it would be a lot easier to make it consistent so they always know, oh, I can go to these zones” Schlude said.

CPD is also working with Columbia/Boone County Health Department to address crowd control issues related to late-night food vendors.

“When I worked downtown, we had a couple hotdog carts and that was about it. So with the addition of those vendors, it also increases foot traffic in certain places,” Schlude said.

Schlude said this weekend will focus on health department officials educating the food vendors in an attempt to curb any resulting crowd control issues, but if the vendors don’t make the necessary changes a citation could follow.

“They’re going to talk to them about where they can and can’t be. Make sure they have the proper permits, kind of educate them about all the rules, like you can’t have music emanating from a food truck, things of that nature. Make sure that they have proper signage, lighting, whatever the requirements are,” Schlude said.

CPD is redeveloping a full-time dedicated downtown unit, but Schlude said resources don’t allow for it until summer 2026.

“When we get all the folks that are currently in training in the academy out and functioning on the street, which isn’t until next May or June, that’s when we think we can reach staff a true full time downtown unit,” Schlude said.

In the meantime the department has temporarily reassigned a patrol sergeant to focus full-time on overnight downtown operations.

“We wanted a consistent person who would, in the meantime, try to organize operations between now and frankly, when it gets really cold in the winter,” Schlude said. “But having that consistent person who is aware of all the issues going on, being able to communicate with the business owners down there.”

She explained that during the colder months the department will look at the need for downtown weekend staffing on a week by week basis as the chilly weather brings a lot less people to the area.

Right now, CPD is working with downtown business owners to have them sign a ‘Letter of Enforcement’ to try and curb crime in the area. Schlude said the department has made the process easier by taking it from a paper form to digital in an attempt to get it out to more business owners.

“Basically authorizes the police department to enforce trespassing on private property without the person that controls the business being there,” Schlude said. “There’s a link at the very top of our web page where businesses can go on, fill out that form, it’s good for a year.”

CPD has also upped its enforcement of misdemeanor offenses downtown in an effort to reduce violent incidents.

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Alison Patton

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Jefferson City plans to demolish the Madison Street Parking Garage in November instead of taking it down and rebuilding it with the new downtown conference center, according to city spokeswoman Molly Bryan.

“We were planning to have the demolition begin for this parking garage towards the end of 2025,” Bryan said. “Now, we’re trying to move that process quicker to get to that point.”

The city hired a consultant to take a look at the parking garage Thursday after city staff had noticed some safety concerns with the ramps.

“The structural engineers that looked at it agreed that the ramps were of concern,” said Dave Helmick, who is the city’s interim director for planning and protective services.

Ramps to get in between floors and stair cases are blocked off. Many parking spaces are unusable because the ramps are unsound, so the only available spaces are the few that are in front of an entrance.

Helmick said the parking garage isn’t in danger of collapsing.

“The big concern is the ramps that allow you access to those upper areas, driving over them, heavy vehicles, snow loads, further deterioration, things like that could compromise those ramps to the point of failure,” Helmick said.

Bryan said the city reached to permit holders for the Madison Street Parking Garage to notify them of the changes and posted “permit only” signs around the entrances.

The city is working with a company to figure out where people can park once the garage is completely shutdown in November.

For the city to go through with demolition, the City Council would have to pass a resolution Monday allowing the city to start considering bids from contractors, according to city documents. Bids would no longer be accepted after Oct. 17.

At the next council meeting, members will also consider entering an agreement with the developer of the downtown conference center, which is another step toward building.

Ward 2 Councilman Mike Lester said he expects that bill to pass.

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ABC 17 News Team

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Week 6 of the Missouri high school football season is tonight.

Scores from Mid-Missouri teams will be posted below.

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Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A new “Ride Home” program aimed to get people back to their support system, will begin taking referrals from the City of Columbia on Monday.

The “Ride Home” initiative came about after the Columbia City Council agreed to amend its existing contract with First Last Mile in August. It will begin with referrals from Room At The Inn, Turning Point, DIVERT and 4AChange.

“I think its important for them to be able to have the partnership with the shelters, and to be able to bring us in because we’re already doing transportation and we’re probably doing transportation for some of those people who are part of those programs,” Jessica Jasinksi, administrator for First Last Mile, said.

“It’s important now because our local services are reaching capacity, we don’t have enough services to serve our local community, so being able to get people rom out of town back home frees up resources to focus on, all the folks that are here in Boone County,” Room At The Inn Diretor John Trapp said.

Individuals may also self-refer through Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services.

The program is intended not only for those experiencing homelessness, but also for anyone who may have traveled to Columbia for things like a medical appointment but do not have a way to return home.

Jasinski said as long as a person qualifies for the program and the city gives permission, then First Last Mile will transport them within a three-hour radius from Columbia.

If it is beyond that distance, Jasinski said, that person will be transported to a greyhound bus station. Trapp said the program is also crucial for individuals and organizations.

“Currently, different organizations are buying bus tickets, so this will be a way to save those organizations budget,” Trapp said. “The Room At The Inn bought four bus tickets last month, so there are people needing to get home.”

To be eligible for the “Ride Home” program rider will need to have:

Verifiable support at the destination

Income at or below 200% of the current federal poverty limit

Referral from a provider or a photo ID

No outstanding warrants in Columbia/Boone County, which will be verified by PHHS staff

According to Jasinski, First Last Mile has five vehicles and seven drivers, with an eighth driver expected to be trained and ready to drive by next week. Jasinski said vans were chosen for their accessibility features, including sliding doors that make it easier for passengers to get in and out.

Funding for the program comes from the American Rescue Plan Act, according to Jasinski.

First Last Mile is open Monday through Friday rom 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Jasinski said those who need a ride will need to call at least 24 hours ahead of time. If there is an influx of rides, Jasinski said she does not anticipate turning people away.

“I think it’s something that been needed in Boone County alone for a long time, people are just they’ve been shut in and they haven’t been able to get where they need to go,” Jasinski said.

First Last Mile also offers transportation for essential trips such as grocery store visits, medical appointments and commuting to and from work. The organization partners with several local employers including MFA Oil to help provide reliable transportation for their employees.

Since launching this part of the service, FLM has completed more than 5,000 rides in the past two years, according to Jansiki.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man who is charged for his alleged role in a standoff on April 11 on West Ash Street has been committed to the Department of Mental Health.

A commitment order was filed on Tuesday for Michael Whited, 59. He is charged with second-degree making a terroristic threat, resisting arrest and three counts of misdemeanor fourth-degree assault.

He joins roughly 500 other people who have been deemed incompetent to stand trial who are waiting for a bed with the Department of Mental Health, according to previous reporting. The order says Whited should be evaluated within six months. He is currently listed on the Boone County Jail’s roster.

Whited allegedly pulled out a gun and threatened to shoot a woman and a dog at Ash Street Apartments earlier this year, according to court documents from previous reporting. White then allegedly pointed the gun at other people in the area before barricading himself in his apartment, previous reporting states.

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